Damien Versele

learning architect 

deep change contractor


Listening is at the source of all great leadership.  

Lack of listening, lack of connecting with what's really 

going on in reality, very often is at the source of 

leadership failures. (Otto Scharmer)

intro

Leadership has traditionally been a complex interplay of many roles and skills. At the core it is about

- bringing people together, inspiring and supporting them around certain goals,

- providing direction for the realization of these goals,

- sharing, coordinating and monitoring the work in order to achieve predetermined results.


Leadership is also a constant dance between many tensions (task-oriented vs. people-oriented, attention to employees vs. attention to shareholders - directors, internal orientation vs. external orientation).  The current times are characterized by complexity and uncertainty.  Globalization of markets, unpredictability of government regulations, rapid evolution in digitalization, immediacy of social media, rising impact of climate change and wars raging near and far … all lead to uncertainty in society.  These trends also enter the daily reality of leaders and management teams of organizations of all kinds.


Successful leadership in conditions of uncertainty and continuous change therefore requires a shift in leadership.  A number of new, fundamental dimensions or skills for leadership are becoming increasingly necessary, including:

- connecting with yourself (your own core, why you do what you do), requiring time for reflection,

- transition from solo leadership to shared leadership,

- strengthening connections within the (management) team, company, non-profit organization, community,

- recognizing and valuing different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds, giving a voice to diversity,

- drawing on the creativity and willingness of employees to contribute to meaningful goals, allowing co-ownership,

- involving employees in decision-making in matters that directly affect them,

- creating a space where co-workers can continuously learn and participate in the unfolding future.

1. your challenge

  • You have great ideas for your company or organization and are looking for a sounding board to coordinate them,
  •  You want to develop a more shared leadership practice,
  •  You want to start a strategic planning process,
  •  You feel alone facing major challenges in running your company or organization,
  • You encounter problems in collaboration with close colleagues,
  • You want to reflect on your management style,
  • You’re looking for a good work-life balance.

2. aanbod

Guidance of:

  • the young entrepreneur and manager who has already made his mark elsewhere but is new to the profession of management,
  • the manager in any organization who is looking for:
    • inspiration in strategic thinking and/or reorganization of his/her organization
    • new ways of thinking and acting to respond flexibly to the relentless flow of change in the market, regulations, stakeholder expectations, etc.,
    • workable forms of participation in business operations aiming at greater well-being of employees
    • the kind of leadership that achieves results from inwardness and collective intelligence in navigating uncertainty and complexity
    • leaders of communities, cooperatives, etc. in understanding the challenges of our time and in updating and strengthening their mission, outreach, purpose, leadership
    • all places where leadership is under pressure.